flickered around her hands. The fire pulsed-alive, hung

ea how she ha

idea how

ession that sent a chill through her bones. His crimson eyes glow

sn't

g, he look

he murmured. "V

ignore the way his voice curled around he

my castle on fire, little wolf. Perhaps

p her arms, but it didn't burn. It felt like a part of her-somethin

ook a st

to run, but something e

earn how to contr

mbled. "I don't

"Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're

ying to smother the flames

an't fight it, Aria. It's in

tening to him.

er was building, rising,

sion b

kin a

th

a

her chest. Her knees buckled, and she hi

ing beside her. His fingers gripped h

word," he

red. "What

p. "Say yes. Let me show you what you

re body

eamed at her to refuse

side her whispere

kn

nders

can

gainst her ear. "Say yes, Aria. And I p

art po

abric of his shirt, the flame

this was

he was

u

red of bei

r gaze to his

es

smile spread

rl," he

th

ames e

y Fire

d left Aria's lips

d, engulfing her hands, her arms-yet she felt no pain. Instead, a strange sensation coiled de

n eyes gleaming with something dan

ound them in an almost sentient dance. The torches along the castle walls flicker

h

ing pain pier

ielding. His fingers curled around her wrist, keepi

as being

f fire a

surged, coiling around their joined hands,

en't hers flashed

eld drench

swallowed

is crown soaked in the l

itched. "What..

there was an edge to it. "P

e. The bond had taken hold, binding them t

ow-his presence like a storm brewing inside her che

th

his

. An

back, m

as a new voice echoed in her mind.

tightened. "Do

was fi

as dr

ed through her, she real

st accepted L

ned something

had been waitin

g that w

ould not

ering against her ribs. The voice that had whispered in her mind was gone

ked around her wrist. His crimson eyes burned

ice was smooth, controlled-but th

o meet his gaze. "Wha

smirk. "That," he said, "was th

rawling beneath her skin. Welcome back, my que

a queen,"

uckled. "

n that still buzzed between them. But something had changed. She c

lse was ins

ing an

ing po

t was

ded, her voice steadier than s

with unreadable eyes. "Yo

. "That's no

presence was intoxicating, and she h

ia," he murmured. "You were born for more.

head. "I don't

"Then explain why your flames n

a f

d down at

ga

ered at her fingertip

on. Deep, rich

y, her pulse racing. "Wh

longer just a wolf, little one." He stepped

to the dar

. She wanted to deny it.

eep d

w he wa

fied her more